The Gift Certificate

In Episode 3, Larry gives his friends, Ted and Mary, the gift of a $300 gift certificate to Matteo's Restaurant. Ted and Mary are so thankful for the gift and tell Larry it's such a generous gesture. Later in the episode, Larry decides to take his date, Mary Jane Porter, to Matteo's. While on the date he sees that Ted and Mary are there for dinner as well but he also sees that they have taken another couple, Jeff and Susie, there with them. Larry can't help but confront Ted and Mary on their actions. He is extremely offended that they would take another couple out to dinner on his gift. That if anything, if Ted and Mary were to invite anyone, it should have been him.

While Ted and Mary are given this generous gift, it is up to them to decide how they plan on using it. There isn't a precursor as to how they should spend it, and there aren't any written rules of gift certificate etiquette. Though it is understandable from where Larry is coming from.

In the grand scheme of things, Larry gave this gift to Ted and Mary, for Ted and Mary to enjoy. Yet, another couple is reaping the benefits as well. Is that really fair? If that's the case, than Larry should have given half of the gift certificate to Jeff and Susie because technically that's how the gift certificate is being broken down anyway. Both couples are now eating a free meal on Larry's dollar. When really, this was a gift that was only supposed to be enjoyed by one couple.

On the other hand, in Larry's eyes, he thinks that he should have been invited to the dinner instead. But wouldn't that be an awkward situation as well? It would have been the same as if Ted and Mary gave part of the gift back to him. Larry would have been reaping the benefits of the gift he gave, making the gesture seem almost selfish.

Maybe Larry shouldn't have given such a generous gift that way it could have only been used on the people he intended it to be.

Either way, though, a gift is a gift, once it is out of your hands it is up to the receiver how they decide to use it...even if that means that your gift was basically given to twice as many people as you had intended.